A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE STATEWIDE SYSTEM OF TRAUMA CARE IN NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, unintentional injury is a significant problem and is the number one cause of death for persons between one and forty-four years of age in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, in 2002, New Mexico was ranked by the federal centers for disease control and prevention as first in the nation in unintentional injury, has a death rate that is fifty percent higher than the national average and is first in the nation in pedestrian fatalities caused by traumatic injury; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has the highest mortality rate for traumatic brain injury; and

     WHEREAS, residents and visitors to New Mexico who are seriously injured are entitled to receive the highest level of care; and

     WHEREAS, the optimal number of neurosurgeons for New Mexico's population is thirty-five; however, there are fewer than ten neurosurgeons in the state; and 

     WHEREAS, there is a continuing loss of neurosurgeons needed to provide care to traumatic brain injury victims in the state; and

     WHEREAS, it has been repeatedly demonstrated that trauma care effectively reduces injury mortality and morbidity in children; and

     WHEREAS, the trauma system infrastructure is only minimally funded by the state and intermittently funded by the federal government; and

     WHEREAS, the trauma system needs to be expanded, and no sustainable source of funding exists; and

     WHEREAS, of the thirty-four acute care hospitals in the state, only three are designated by the department of health as trauma centers, leaving significantly large areas of the state with inadequate access to trauma care;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to create a targeted-issue trauma system committee to study and make recommendations to improve the statewide system of trauma care in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study identify the structure, personnel, facilities and related requirements necessary to develop a statewide pediatric trauma system; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study reflect the cost of continuing operation of both an adult and a pediatric trauma system in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study examine the financial and professional needs of trauma physicians to ensure provision of specialized care for trauma victims statewide; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health request the insurance division of the public regulation commission, the statewide emergency medical services advisory committee, the trauma advisory committee, a statewide organization representing physicians, a community hospital in Santa Fe and a statewide trauma foundation to each designate one representative to serve on the targeted-issue trauma system committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee report its findings and recommendations to address the need for trauma system neurosurgeons, development of a pediatric system and adequate financing for a statewide trauma system to the interim legislative health and human services committee by October 2005; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be sent to the secretary of health, the director of the insurance division of the public regulation commission, the statewide emergency medical services advisory committee and the trauma advisory committee.